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The training DVD was launched on Thursday night at the residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner. It aims to address issues such as basic housekeeping, how to properly clean, freshen and set up a hotel room which meets international standards.

‘Your last look at the room is the guest’s first look’ was one of the important tips shared in the DVD.

President of S.H.A, Adele Kruse, acknowledged the support of New Zealand.

“It is through their Samoa Tourism Support Programme (S.T.S.P) funding which has made this Tourism Industry Housekeeping Training DVD possible,” she said.

Rudy Bartley, along with the assistance of S.H.A operators, was responsible for producing the video.

“The training videos are to augment all the actual training that we do ourselves. But the importance of this training video is that it standardizes how we do business,” Ms. Kruse said.

“So when you go from one hotel to another hotel every employee is doing the same thing as opposed to individual peoples idea of how to clean a room, how to make a bed, how to freshen the place.”

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Tourism is one of Samoa’s most profitable economic sectors so improving our performance at hotels will ultimately lead to the improvement of our economy.

“Tourism is a mainstay for Samoa and our product development is key and the consistent delivery of our services is also key,” Ms. Kruse said.

“In order for us to get the type of numbers we would like to see coming into Samoa, we need to be competitive.

“We also need to ensure that when our guests come with demands with what they are looking for we are able to deliver.”

This video will prove very useful for not only the employees but also the employers.

“This is why we have made this training video and it is something that can be used by all the operators,” Ms. Kruse said.

“It will give confidence to our operators that the employees know what they are doing; and it will give confidence to our employees because they will know what is expected of them.”

This is only the beginning and there are plans to make training videos to touch on all areas of tourist accommodation.

“We have started with a housekeeping video but we have plans to make other training videos in the near future,” Ms. Kruse said.

“All the hotels will receive a copy of the DVD and it will also be kept as one of our collaterals for all our hotels.”